Electric toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A power operated toothbrush characterized by a hollow handle containing an insertable and removable motor or equivalent power source, head means embodying interior and exterior paired rotary brushes, an elongated restricted barrel uniting the handle and head means, and an operating connection between the brushes and power equipped handle. The head means provides shielding flanges for the brushes. Other facilities which increase the overall efficiency are provided.

nited States Patent Francolino Apr. 2, 1974 [541 ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH 2,655,675 10/1953 Grover 15/23 [76] Inventor: filtlizeppe Francolino, 2 3 N, White Horse Pk" Audubon NJ 08106 Pnmary Exammer-Edward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Clarence A. OBncn; Har- Feb. 13, vey Jacobson [2]] App]. No.: 332,199

7 H [57] ABSTRACT Foreign Application Priority Data A power operated toothbrush characterized by a hollow handle containing an insertable and removable Apr. 27, 1972 Italy ..4998l/72 motor or equivalent pow source, hflad means 1 5 1 I bodying interior and exterior paired rotary brushes, an [52] U.S. Cl. 15/23 610" gated restricted barrel umtlng the handle and 2 A46) 13/02 Afig y fi head means, and an operating connection between the re 0 care lug/50, brushes and power equipped handle The head means provides shielding flanges for the brushes. Other facili- References Cited tles WhlCh 1ncrease the overall efficlency are provlded. UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1,450,542 4/1923 Faust l5/25 2,044,344 6/1936 Bagnall 15/23 2,435,421 2/1948 Blair 15/23 60 5a 4a 40 94 44 46 /4 22 24 x A PATENTEU RPR 2 i974 SHEET 1 BF 2 Fig.3

More specifically, the hollow handle is cylindrical and has a rearward trailing edge which is open but normally closed by an end closing cap permitting access to be obtained to the enclosed power unit, said cylinder providing a satisfactory manipulatable hand-grip. The power transmitting means embodies an eccentrically offset barrel which is proportionately reduced in cross sectional dimension and is cooperable with the handle or grip and also with novel brush-equipped head means on the forward or leading end of the barrel.

For background purposes attention is directed to the power-driven toothbrush construction with demountably supported rotary toothbrushes shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,583,886 granted to Alvin J. Schlegal. Schlegel shows side-by-side dual acting rotary brushes drivingly connected to an electric motor in a handle type housing, the brushes being geared for rotation in opposite directions and carried by paired drive shafts. Attention is also directed to an analogous rotary toothbrush construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,044,344 granted to V. B. Bagnall.

An object of the present invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon the aforementioned prior patents and to advance the art by providing a toothbrush construction in which, it is submitted, better serves the purposes of users of power driven dual brushes.

Briefly, an elongated hollow cylinder provides a satisfactory handle or hand-grip. The hollow portion of the cylinder provides a housing for reception and retention of a power unit which, generally construed, comprises an electric motor equipped with a driving gear and wherein the electric motor is accessible by way of an end closing cap which is plugged into the coacting open end portion of the cylinder. The elongated complemental shank comprises a reduced barrel having a first end eccentrically offset and integrally joined to and projecting beyond the forward closed end of the cylinder. The leading end portion of this shank is joined to novel head means which is constructed to partly enclose and shield the paired rotary brushes. More specifically, the head means is provided at one end with a gear box for the desired train of gears. The other end is equipped with a pivotally mounted adapter which is not only cooperable with the brush shielding flanges or guards but is provided with detents which are aligned and releasably cooperable with oriented keeper seats provided in lower forward edge portions of the flanges.

Then too, it will be noted that a single power transmitting shaft is mounted in the reduced barrel and thus provides a simplified means which effectually delivers power from the power unit, operates the intermeshing gears in the gear train and insures positive reverse functioning of the companion rotary brushes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a power driven dual toothbrush constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the cover cap enclosing and concealing the brushes and other component parts.

FIG. 2 is a view also in perspective and based on FIG. 1 with the cover cap removed and showing the significantly unique barrel-type shank and the head means carried by the forward and leading end portion thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, the purpose of which is to detail the construction of the hinged or pivotally mounted adapter plate and which shows the keepers and detents, brushes and associated gear box.

FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal view through the complete brush depicted in FIG. 1 and showing the electric motor and other component parts in elevation.

FIG. 5 is also a fragmentary detail view with parts in section and elevation and emphasizing features of the pivoted adapter and gear box.

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 6-6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 7 is a similar view but looking the the opposite direction and taken on the plane of the section line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the insertable and removable replaceable rotary brush and how it is constructed and how the unlatched end adapter plate is swung to an open or out-of-the-way position.

The handle means broadly stated is denoted (FIG. 2) by the reference 10 and the complemental head means at the forward or leading end is denoted by the numeral 12. The handle means 10 is characterized at the rear or trailing end by a suitably proportioned elongated cylinder 14 which provides the handle or hand-grip, the rearward end portion 16 being open but normally closed by a concave-convex removable closure or end cap 18. As best shown in FIG. 4 this end cap has an annular flange 20 which is frictionally plugged into the end portion 16. The end cap is centrally constructed as at 22 to accommodate an electric cord 24 for the electric motor or other equivalent power unit 26. The electric motor is provided with a drive gear 28. It will be noted that the forward end portion 30 of the cylinder is provided with integral closing means 32 which is reinforced as at 34 and is constructed to provide an endless annular stop shoulder 36. The shank portion of the handle means comprises a reduced suitably elongated barrel 38 having suitable bearings 40 and 42 for end portions of the single power transmitting shaft 44. This shaft is provided at its right end or rearward end portion with a power takeoff gear 46 meshing with the drive gear 28. In this connection it will be noted that the hollow portion 15 provides a housing for the insertable and removeable electric motor 26. It will also be noted that the major portion of the single shaft 44 is enclosed in the hollow portion of the barrel 38 and that the forward end of the shaft is provided with a suitably proportioned power transferring gear 48.

The aforementioned head means 12 is provided on the end portion 50 of the barrel or shank. The preferred head means comprises a channel-shaped member embodying paired outwardly and downwardly sloping guard flanges 52. This channel-shaped member serves to accommodatingly mount the adapter plate 54, said plate being provided with knuckles 56 hingedly connected with associated knuckles 58 and a complemental pivot pin 60. Thus, the adapter is swingable from the out-of-the-way position (shown in FIG. 8) to the normal latched position shown in the other views and particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The adapter plate is provided with a central clearance notch 62 opening through a lower marginal edge portion 64, said notch defining mounting and supporting members 66 for the rotary bristle brushes 68. These brushes are interchangeable and identical in construction and when in operation are rotated in opposite directions as suggested in FIG. 6. They are also of a diameter to be partly enclosed within the confines of the flanged channel-member in the manner shown. While considering the adapter it will be noted that it is provided with a pair of laterally projecting lugs 70 terminating in appropriate detents 72 releasably seatable in keeper seats 74 provided therefor in lower edge portions 76 of the aforementioned guard flanges 52. Suitable bearings 77 serve to accommodate journals 78 on coacting end portions of the brushes 68. The other ends of the brushes are provided with properly constructed axial journals 80 which are releasably but driveably connected with gears 82 provided in pocket portions of the hollow gear box 84. The gear box also contains speed reducing gears 86 (FIG. 7) whereby to provide the desired gear train delivering motion from the shaft 44 to the brushes. Accordingly, the head means 12 comprises the flanged channel-shaped member partly and properly enclosing the rotary brushes, the hinged adapter plate at a forward or leading end and the spaced gear box 84, said gear box having the central bottom portion thereof provided with a clearance notch 88 permitting inspection of the gears.

In actual practice an appropriate on-off button 90 is provided on the hand-grip. In addition an elongated sleeve type protector cap 92 is provided and is fittingly mounted over the head means and shank portion of the handle means. The end portion 94 of the cap abuts the aforementioned annular stop shoulder 36. The closed end 96 of the cap is provided with appropriate vents 98.

It will be evident that motion is transmitted from the motor or equivalent power source 26 and drive gear 28, to the gear-equipped shaft 44 and wherein this shaft in turn and by way of the gear train transmits motion to the rotary brushes and operates the same in opposite direction, as suggested in FIG. 6.

The pivoted or hingedly mounted adapter plate permits ready application and removal of the renewable bristle brushes. The herein disclosed power actuated dual or duplex toothbrush is deemed to be simple, practical and capable of achieving the improved end results desired. A more detailed description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A power actuated dual type toothbrush comprising an elongated hollow cylinder providing a handle, the hollow portion of said cylinder providing a housing for reception and retention of a power unit, said cylinder being open at an rearward trailing end and closed at its forward leading end, an applicable and removable closure for said rearward end, an elongated barrel constituting a shank and having a first end integrally joined to and projecting beyond said forward end, and a second end embodying head means, said head means providing a shield and being channel-shaped in transverse section and having a laterally projecting gear box located at the juncture of said second end and said head means and a leading terminal end portion provided with a pivotally mounted adapter, said channel-shaped head means embodying opposed lengthwise brushshielding guard flanges having recessed keeper seats, said adapter having retaining lugs provided with detents aligned and releasably cooperable with their respectively oriented keeper seats, a pair of spaced parallel coplanar rotary bristle brushes removably and replaceably nested in the channel portions of said head means and provided with axial journals mounted for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said gear box and adapter respectively, a single motion transmitting shaft mounted and confined for rotation in said barrel, a power unit confined in said housing and having a driving gear, said shaft having a rearward end provided with a driven gear meshing with said driving gear and a forward end projecting into said gear box and terminating with a power transferring gear, brush turning gears rotatable in said gear box and operatively connectible with said brushes, and speed reducing gears also operable in said gear box and meshing with said power transferring gear and brush turning gears.

2. The toothbrush defined in claim 1, and wherein said barrel is eccentrically offset, reduced in crosssectional dimension, and said power transmitting shaft is restricted in cross-section and is proportional in size compared to said cylinder and also said barrel.

3. The toothbrush defined in claim 2, and wherein said gear box is provided with a clearance notch opening through a marginal edge portion of said gear box.

4. The toothbrush defined in claim 2, and wherein said gear box is provided with a clearance notch opening through a marginal edge portion of said gear box, said adapter comprising a plate and said plate likewise having a clearance notch similar to said first named notch and said notches being similar in size and aligned with each other.

5. The toothbrush defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the notch in said gear box serves to permit an observer to view and check functioning of the gears, the notch in said adapter plate assisting one to not only check functioning of the brushes but to aid in positioning and applying the brushes to the users teeth.

der. 

1. A power actuated dual type toothbrush comprising an elongated hollow cylinder providing a handle, the hollow portion of said cylinder providing a housing for reception and retention of a power unit, said cylinder being open at an rearward trailing end and closed at its forward leading end, an applicable and removable closure for said rearward end, an elongated barrel constituting a shank and having a first end integrally joined to and projecting beyond said forward end, and a second end embodying head means, said head means providing a shield and being channel-shaped in transverse section and having a laterally projecting gear box located at the juncture of said second end and said head means and a leading terminal end portion provided with a pivotally mounted adapter, said channel-shaped head means embodying Opposed lengthwise brush-shielding guard flanges having recessed keeper seats, said adapter having retaining lugs provided with detents aligned and releasably cooperable with their respectively oriented keeper seats, a pair of spaced parallel coplanar rotary bristle brushes removably and replaceably nested in the channel portions of said head means and provided with axial journals mounted for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said gear box and adapter respectively, a single motion transmitting shaft mounted and confined for rotation in said barrel, a power unit confined in said housing and having a driving gear, said shaft having a rearward end provided with a driven gear meshing with said driving gear and a forward end projecting into said gear box and terminating with a power transferring gear, brush turning gears rotatable in said gear box and operatively connectible with said brushes, and speed reducing gears also operable in said gear box and meshing with said power transferring gear and brush turning gears.
 2. The toothbrush defined in claim 1, and wherein said barrel is eccentrically offset, reduced in cross-sectional dimension, and said power transmitting shaft is restricted in cross-section and is proportional in size compared to said cylinder and also said barrel.
 3. The toothbrush defined in claim 2, and wherein said gear box is provided with a clearance notch opening through a marginal edge portion of said gear box.
 4. The toothbrush defined in claim 2, and wherein said gear box is provided with a clearance notch opening through a marginal edge portion of said gear box, said adapter comprising a plate and said plate likewise having a clearance notch similar to said first named notch and said notches being similar in size and aligned with each other.
 5. The toothbrush defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the notch in said gear box serves to permit an observer to view and check functioning of the gears, the notch in said adapter plate assisting one to not only check functioning of the brushes but to aid in positioning and applying the brushes to the users teeth.
 6. The toothbrush defined in claim 1, and wherein the closed end of said cylinder is encompassed by an endless annular shoulder, and, in combination, a protector cap remobably fitted over and enclosing said head means, brushes, gear box and barrel and having an open end portion abutting said shoulder.
 7. The toothbrush defined in claim 6 and wherein said power unit comprises an electric motor replaceably but retentively lodged in said housing, and said closure comprises a convex end cap having an annular assembling flange retentively plugged into said cylinder. 